After a delay of roughly 50 minutes, it looked as though TCU would be in for a potential upset against SMU in Dallas. The Mustangs took a 9-0 lead in the first quarter as the Horned Frogs looked sloppy at the start, but a special teams touchdown and a fortunate bounce of a fumbled football have put TCU on top at halftime, 14-12.
Smu took the opening possession of the game down the field for a touchdown thanks in large part to a 51-yard touchdown run by Braeden West, giving the home team a nice early jolt in this rivalry game. With TCU’s offense out of sorts on their first two drives, a special teams miscue led to two more points for SMU when a botched punt attempt was accidentally kicked by an SMU player out of the end zone.
This TCU punt was one wild play for an SMU safety. https://t.co/IExIdZLaNS
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) September 8, 2018
Down 9-0, TCU needed a spark, and it was only fitting that KaVontae Turpin would provide it on a record-setting punt return. Turpin returned a punt 48 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter to get the visiting Horned Frogs on the board. It was the fifth special teams touchdown of Turpin’s career.
There’s the record! KaVontae Turpin sets a TCU record with five special teams touchdowns! #TurpinTime pic.twitter.com/NKl22W0dPW
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) September 8, 2018
After a quick three-and-out by SMU their next time on the field, TCU’s offense benefited from a fumbled football out of the hands of Sewo Olonilua taking a bounce where a streaking Jaelan Austin had no problem recovering the football in the end zone for a go-ahead score.
Sliding into the weekend like... pic.twitter.com/LifzHmnlz1
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) September 8, 2018